geoham

Around here, paid pub gigs are virtually non-existent! Pay to play and play for free a plently...... Couple of guys with guitars and backing tracks and you might get a gig, but bass and drums? Good luck!

To elaborate on my point above, I've been trying to properly get my function band off the ground for a few years now, and jammed with a couple of others too. You need people who have the time to commit to a function band and the willingness to play songs they don't like. Like has already been mentioned - we're providing a service for the enjoyment of other people. Everyone I've played with has 'talked the talk' at some point, but they've mostly been unsuitable in one way or another. For example:- - A male vocalist who did a good Mick Jagger impression, but refused to sing far too many songs - usually because he deemed them to be uncool. - A guitarist who doesn't have the time to learn anything, but never misses ANY televised sport - football, darts, tennis - you name it. Can't rehearse on Sundays, because he can't miss 'Super Sunday', similar story when the Champions League is on. - A pointy guitar owner who made everything in to a metal version. (Scooped mids, pinch harmonics, you get the idea!) - A keyboard player who couldn't get a decent sound - it's the one area where decent gear is a must - the punters can tell! (Which punter can really hear the difference between a Squire Affinity P and a Fender Custom Shop P?) - A female vocalist who doesn't know her own range. We always start in the original key, and despite practicing at home, we sometimes need to move down a tone when we get together. It's not always easy to work out on the fly! - Various people with too many other commitments, from family to working shifts. Don't mean to be negative here - just make sure you spend the time up-front getting the right people!

All good advice above, but more than anything get the right people. You all need to practice hard and have a decent length setlist. Not everyone will have the drive to do this!

Quite looking forward to using now! Have a gig with my function band on Thursday, if it arrives on time I might sneak it in somewhere....

It apparently comes fitted with Aquila strings - don't know if they are the 'Thundergut' ones - however they are white in colour. Does anyone know?

So the singer from my (fairly) new originals band has got a bee in his bonnet about booking acoustic gigs. There are five of us - two guitars (one of whom sings), violin, bass & drums. We did one acoustic gig just before Christmas that I didn't really want to do, but eventually agreed to keep the peace. I just used my P bass - it sounded fine, but I was lost without a drummer (other than my singer's ridiculous loud foot stamping). Anyway, politely made it clear that I have no problems with the other three playing acoustic shows, butthey're far from what I want to be doing. FWIW - I do love our electric shows. My blooming drummer has only gone and bought himself a cajon (i.e - a big wooden box he sits on and bangs out a beat!), so I'm kind of backed into a corner now! I don't have an acoustic bass guitar, and while I'd love to have a double bass, it's not really possible! So anyway, I've gone and ordered one of Thomann's Kala U bass clones. I've gone for the fretless option. http://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_kahuna_clu_bass_fl.htm Has anyone tried one of these yet? Looks like a whole lot of fun to me!

[size=3]Thanks for the information guys.[/size] [size=3][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]I've had the head to three rehearsals since it had it[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'s little [/font][/color][font="helvetica, arial, sans-serif"][color="#282828"]hiccup. It[/color][/font][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'s had a 25 mile round trip each time, and the problem still hasn[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'t come back, which I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'m obviously relieved about. I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'d still like to figure out exactly what caused it though - I have a corporate gig this Thursday with 1000+ people there, I just [i]know[/i] that if it decides to go again, it[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'ll be then! The venue has a decent PA and sound guy, so if the worst does happen, I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'ll have some Zoom B3 amp-sim patches lined up just in case![/font][/color][/size] [size=3]I[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'ll try and open it again this week and look for the spade type connections that were mentioned, along with any dry solder joints etc. I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'m guessing that the fault is going to be somewhere in the power section - the preamp in this is all surface mount digital type stuff - not a place I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'d attack with a soldering iron! (Since I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'m clumsy!)[/font][/color][/size] [size=3][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]On a side note, I[/font][/color][color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]'m actually shocked at how loud this thing is, never had it above 3 in a rehearsal or gig! (Through either two TC 2x10s at gigs or an Ampeg 8x10 at the rehearsal room)[/font][/color][/size]

Well, got to the bottom of it - the baseplate of the bridge isn't straight. Seems to be slightly bent where screw holes are. It's the same at both the bass and treble sides. So, for now I need to decide whether to live with it, put the BBOT back on, or try and fix it. My uncle is a blacksmith....perhaps he could straighten it!

With the screws loosened off, it does appear to sit flush, it's when tightening the screws, it angles it back. I'm confident it's not the earth wire, because I managed to pull it out a while back when changing the pickup, and put a wee mod in place. The earth wire is sitting entirely in the little recess, and I have some aluminium tape (ultra thin) providing a good contact to the bridge. It's never shifting again! I'll pull the bridge back off tomorrow and make sure all is as it should be. Cheers, George

Hi, Hopefully one of you can help here! I've had a Gotoh 201 bridge fitted to my Jazz for some time now, and I had no problems fitting it - straight replacement for the BBOT! Last week, I had the opportunity to pick up the same bridge used for £20 and jumped at the chance to get one for my P. It seemed no problem to fit, but it doesn't appear to be sitting flush at the front (i.e. - neck side). To give you an idea of the size of the gap, I can fit three sheets of cheap printer paper under it snuggly, but not 4, so approx 0.3mm It's definitely not the earth wire that's causing it btw. Any suggestions?

I think I may have been mistaken regarding the distortion, but the buzz and volume drop were definitely there. It was pitched roughly at A, (55 or 110 hz) - so I'd guess it it was probably 50 cycle mains hum. Out of curiosity, i opened it up and had a look inside. Nothing visibly suspect at all, however i put it back together, and the problem is gone! Scared it'll happen mid-gig though... Any suggestions?

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, but my BH500 just started exhibiting similar symptoms. Did you ever get to the bottom of this? Playing at a quiet volume practicing, and I noticed a sudden drop in volume. Cranked it up a little, but sounded distorted, even with the gain and tube tone down. The constant hum you describe is also there. It doesn't however, appear to be affected by movement. So far I've tried:- Swapping instrument cables Swapping cabs Swapping basses Tried through headphones - the buzz stops and can't be heard through the headphones. Any help appreciated!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1421257223' post='2659063'] Yeah,my opinion is based pretty much on cost. I just can't believe there is anything that would fit my standards for gigs that cost $76.00. I use a Korg Multi Effects unit at home and it sounds great for practicing but IMHO it's no where near the robust sound of a pedal, I would never gig with it. Blue [/quote] Blue, Have a look at this video, it's someone doing an A/B comparison between a Zoom MS60B (£75) emulating an Xotic BB pre-amp with the real thing - which costs more than twice as much. http://youtu.be/CbENF9j10iA The same guy has other similar videos. Seriously, digital technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and Zoom offer outstanding value for money. If you're ever near Glasgow, I'll gladly let try my B3!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1421215324' post='2658465'] I have to back up a little here, so you are saying that the Zoom B1Xon which is a $76.00 multi effects processor is no different than what I get from my pedals. Not that price means anything, but $70.00 wouldn't cover the cost of one of my pedals. I am having a hard time with how this inexpensive $76.00 Zoom B1Xon can provide the same or better "mojo" than my pedals. But like some of you guys say, I'm old and probably don't know anything. Any of you older guys want to chime in on this? [b] [size=3]Zoom B1Xon Bass Effects Pedal with Expression Pedal[/size][/b] List Price: $89.47 Price: $76.00 Blue [size=4][font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000][b]Blue's Pedal Board [/b][/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]Line 6 Wireless Relay[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]Korg Pitch Black Tuner[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]MRX Bass Octave[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]Boss OB3 Overdrive[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]MRX Phase Shifter[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]Boss Synth Bass[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]T.C. Electronics Dedicated Delay[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]EBS Multi-Comp Compression[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]T.C. Electronics Chorus[/color][/color][/font] [font=Arial][color=#0000FF][color=#000000]T.C. Electronics Hall Of Fame Reverb[/color][/color][/font][/size] [/quote] I personally don't fancy the Zoom B1Xon for live use, because it looks more complicated to edit than the B3, losing that individual pedal feeling. However, I believe it sounds the same.

We alternate between 500 Miles and Proud Mary (Tina style!) - both are floorfillers at a typical function. In an earlier male fronted, more rocky incarnation of the band, Gas Panic by Oasis, Tumbling Dice or Comfortably Numb went down well. Up here north of the border, anything a bit stereotypically Scottish is a safe bet! Think Caledonia, Loch Lomond, that type of thing. A personal suggestion would be Come Up And See Me Make Me Smile, by Cockney Rebel. Pity my singer can get the timing of the vocals right!

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1421029466' post='2656425'] IMHO, bass effects for live performance is still a pedals game. Multi Effects units are fine for rehearsing at home and maybe for bedroom recordings but not on stage. I would also stay away from Zoom. Just my opinion. Blue [/quote] Regarding both multi-effects in general and Zoom, I would have agreed with you a few years back, however today's Zoom multi-fx are light years ahead of where they were. I recall having Zoom 505 (when I was guitar playing teenager) and the 708 a couple of years later when I moved exclusively to bass. Build quality wasn't great, parameters were difficult to edit and the sound was passible at best. (This was in the late 90's, early 2000's) Up until recently, I'd been using individual pedals, but I found my board expanding more quickly than I liked - with some pedals not seeing much use! (I play in a function band, and I would say, add an octave pedal to play one song, then a chorus for one more, then add a second distortion to save me messing with settings mid-set) For the past year or so, I've been exclusively using a Zoom B3 (I belive the B1Xon mentioned by the OP shares the same sound processing chips). It does everything I need it to. It's solidly built, easy to edit (even on stage!) and sounds great - you'd be hard pushed to notice a difference in sound between this and what it digitally models. It works just like three individual pedals, and they can be combined how you please. I never use more than three effects on an an invidual song, so I just have a couple of patches that switch between. It covers all bases for both my function band and my originals band, both live and for recording (DI out with great amp sims). It's certainly not a bedroom toy. It's genuinely the best money I've spent on any gear - ever. Give one a try if you can!

As vain as it sounds - if you want the gig, try taking along a bass that matches their style. If you're not sure, a Fender type bass will fit most bands! I successfully auditioned for a function band last year with my trusty P-bass. At the first rehearsal, they were telling me about my unsuccessful competition, and they continuously went on about one guy who brought a six string bass with him. Chat like:- "You should have seen this thing, neck like half a tree!" "Why would any bass player need more than four strings? He'd be as well playing guitar" "The guy could definitely play, just wouldn't fit our band" From what I gather, his choice of bass meant he didn't stand a chance. He may have got a foot in the door if he auditioned with a Fender bass.

So, looks like Santa had more luck at Kenny's Music in Glasgow than my wife did! [size=4]Woke up this morning to a nice set of Chromes! [/size] Wife thought she was being funny....... apparently the salesman was really good too. Apologies for an unjustified rant..... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[quote name='cybertect' timestamp='1419439802' post='2640018'] Not much use to you, I imagine, but Wunjos in Denmark Street in London keep them in stock and Guitar Guitar had them at their Epsom, Surrey branch when I last went in. I bought a set there for my fretless VM Jazz. Edit: Given your mention of them having at least two other branches I have a sneaking suspicion it may be Guitar Guitar that your wife tried :-/ [/quote] Wunjos is great! Bought a P Bass and some flats from them the last time I was in London. Had the best selection of bass strings I've ever come across offline, and staff that knew their stuff. We need something like that north of the border. When I took my metal head 13 year old string shopping for guitar strings, he was presented with plenty of choice and advice. For bassists - we're lucky to get two brands and two gauges to choose from.

So, Mrs Geoham was getting the last few bits for Christmas yesterday and called to see if I needed anything, rather than her just guessing at gifts. I suggested a set of D'addario Chromes strings. She went to a music shop in central Glasgow (who have at least two more branches). The bloke told her that said strings are extremely rare - and tried to palm her off with a set of roundwounds! Thankfully, she politely declined! I'd really like to be able to support my local 'bricks and mortar' shop, but 70% oF the time or more I end up shopping online because I can't get what I need locally. On top of that, finding a sales assistant who actually knows about bass gear is challenge! Given the lack of a dedicated bass shop in Central Scotland, it looks like the internet is the way forward for me. What kind of experiences have others had?

Learned that for the function band, quite a wee fun one to play!

I had flats on my jazz for a while, very nice indeed. I put rounds back on because I missed the their sound. Now, I may well go back again! Been really tough trying to convince the wife I need two Ps and two Js so I can cover all bases at all times!

There's a couple of guys I use in Glasgow. Provide a reasonably sized setup for around £100. Works perfectly for us when we do weddings or functions - all set up and delivered for us, minimal fuss. For us to buy something similar would obviously cost well in to four figures, but for us the big problem would be transport and storage - we don't gig enough to justify a van.

I went to see The Who at the Hydro in Glasgow last night. Could barely hear Pino at all.....

I installed a set in my MIM Jazz (2002). Made a huge difference to the tone, particularly on the bridge pickup - which I originally found so thin sounding it was unusable live.